Age-related changes in gastric mucosal repair and proliferative activities in rats exposed acutely to aspirin.

The present study was designed to determine whether there are any age-related changes in the repair of acute gastric mucosal injury induced by aspirin in Fischer 344 rats. We have also examined the influence of aging on gastric mucosal proliferative activities, a major component of gastric mucosal defense and repair mechanisms. Our data demonstrated that aging was associated with significant delays in both resolution of gross mucosal injury and regeneration of the injured gastric mucosa. However, there were no correlations between the regeneration of the injured gastric mucosa and gastric mucosal expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and transforming growth factor-alpha immunoreactivities.